SMPA outlines blueprint of Hyderabad master plan
PHOTO: FILE
The Sindh Master Plan Authority (SMPA) has put forth an ambitious proposal to prepare a comprehensive 20-year master plan for Hyderabad within a span of two years, with an estimated budget of Rs500 million, subject to the approval of the provincial government.
In a 21-page letter dispatched to the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) last week, the SMPA outlined a blueprint of the master plan, encompassing all vital elements essential to shaping the city's planned urban expansion.
Contrary to Mayor Kashif Ali Shoro's earlier announcement, made upon assuming office, of providing the city with a visionary 50-year plan, the proposed master plan will be confined to the year 2047. Despite decades of anticipation for a master plan, Hyderabad's urban growth has been marred by haphazard and disorganised development, resulting in disconcerting violations such as the conversion of residential plots into commercial areas, the construction of high-rise buildings in areas lacking proper infrastructure, and the proliferation of housing schemes in flood-prone zones. Consequently, Hyderabad's rich heritage, including the historic 18th-century Pucca Qila fort, now finds itself surrounded by slum-like settlements, housing tens of thousands of people.
Hyderabad, sprawling over 993 square kilometres, encompasses urban areas of 437 sq km and rural regions of 556 sq km. The proposal presents two distinct population estimates, ranging from 2.9 million to 3.5 million. Established in 1768 by Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro, a ruler of the Kalhoro dynasty, the city was initially named Nerunkot and later evolved to become the capital of Sindh.
Current Challenges
In its detailed letter, the SMPA emphasised the unchecked and unplanned expansion of Hyderabad's urban landscape, resulting in fragmented development and placing immense strain on existing infrastructure. Inadequate transportation networks, water supply, sanitation systems, and waste management services paint a sorry picture. Housing areas and slums continue to proliferate, lacking essential amenities and proper infrastructure. The city grapples with pressing issues such as air pollution, water scarcity, and the depletion of natural resources. The expanding road networks are failing to cope with the ever-increasing number of vehicles crowding the streets.
Goals of the Master Plan
The proposed master plan will lay out a comprehensive array of projects and programs encompassing crucial aspects such as housing, public facilities, amenities, recreation, roads, transportation, health, education, tourism, heritage preservation, industry, agriculture, water supply, sewerage, drainage, solid waste management, environment, wholesale markets, and urban renewal. The overarching vision is to transform Hyderabad into a secure, well-developed, and smart city.
Environmental Conservation and Sustainability
The master plan will accord high priority to protecting and enhancing the natural environment, focusing on conserving agricultural land, preserving open spaces, creating green corridors, and safeguarding water bodies. Robust strategies for climate change mitigation will be incorporated, exploring innovative methods to harness floodwater, sunlight, winds, and other natural phenomena as sources of renewable energy. Reserved areas will be designated for environment-friendly projects, agriculture, agro industries, farmhouses, national parks, and green belts.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 3rd, 2023.